Women’s Circles: What ARE THEY?

What to Expect at a Women’s Circle: Origins, Benefits, and Why You Should Consider Attending

In a world that is increasingly busy and individualistic, the concept of community and connection is more important than ever. One beautiful and empowering way for women to gather and nurture their emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being is by participating in a women’s circle. If you’ve never attended one, you may wonder what it’s all about. Is it just a group of women chatting, or is there something deeper at play? In this blog post, we’ll explore what a women’s circle is, its origins, and why you might want to consider joining one.

What Is a Women’s Circle?

At its core, a women’s circle is a gathering of women who come together to share their experiences, express their feelings, and support one another in a safe and sacred space. While these circles can take on many forms, they typically focus on fostering connection, healing, personal growth, and empowerment. They often involve sitting in a circle (hence the name) for some or all of the activities, which symbolizes equality, unity, and the cyclical nature of life.

Women’s circles are deeply rooted in ritual, and the experiences can vary from meditations, guided discussions, creative activities (like journaling or art), or even just a quiet space for reflection. The goal is always to create a nurturing and non-judgmental environment where women can open up, be heard, and offer support to others. It’s not about competition, comparison, or judgment; it’s about solidarity and mutual care.

When I host a Women’s Circle, I typically include meditation, some gently movement practice to help release stress and tension, and then a focus around a central theme or activity, be that creating a vision board, focus on the chakras, or release rituals. Click here for more information on current and past Light Soul Wellbeing Women’s Circles.

The Origin of Women’s Circles

Women’s circles have ancient roots. Throughout the ages, women’s circles have been a way for women to gather in community for healing, sharing wisdom, and passing down traditions. These gatherings were often sacred spaces, held under the moon or in connection with seasonal rites, where women would come together to support one another and connect with the rhythms of nature.

In many indigenous cultures, women’s circles were central to the community. They served as spaces for ritual, storytelling, celebration, and spiritual connection. In some traditions, women would gather during specific phases of the moon to honor their cycles, reflect on their personal journeys, and support one another through various life stages—whether it be birth, motherhood, or menopause.

Today, women’s circles continue to thrive, often outside of religious or spiritual organizations, with many women drawn to women’s circles for connection and healing.

What to Expect at a Women’s Circle

While each women’s circle will be unique, here are some common elements you can expect:

1. A Safe and Supportive Space: One of the main features of any women’s circle is the sense of safety and mutual respect. The atmosphere is one of trust, confidentiality, and non-judgment. Boundaries are respected, and there is an emphasis on creating a space where everyone feels comfortable being themselves.

2. Sharing and Listening: It is typical that as women gather together, we enjoy sharing our stories and experiences, and learning from each other. While no one is ever obliged to talk about anything they don’t want to, many women find it connecting and healing to speak from their hearts about their personal experiences or challenges. Speaking in the circle can feel cathartic and empowering, especially when the group shares a deep connection.

3. Guided Practices or Rituals: Many women’s circles involve some form of guided activity, whether that’s meditation, breathwork, dance, or creating something. These practices help create a sense of mindfulness and deeper connection to oneself and others. Rituals may vary depending on the focus of the group, with examples from some of our recent circles including release rituals around a fire, guided meditation and journaling.

4. Community and Sisterhood: The magic of a women’s circle lies in the bonds that are formed between women. The shared experience of vulnerability, mutual care, and support fosters a sense of sisterhood. Women tend to leave the circle feeling more connected to other women and empowered in their personal lives.

5. A Focus on Personal Growth and Healing: Many women’s circles are centered around personal growth, healing, and spiritual development. They often explore themes like self-love, boundaries, empowerment, inner wisdom, or overcoming trauma. The idea is to support women in growing into their fullest, most authentic selves.

Why Attend a Women’s Circle?

If you’ve never attended a women’s circle, you may wonder what the benefits could be. Here are a few reasons why someone might want to join one:

1. Connection and Community: In today’s world, it’s easy to feel isolated, especially as we juggle busy lives, work, and family. A women’s circle offers a space to connect with other like-minded women who understand your struggles, celebrate your joys, and offer a sense of belonging.

2. Healing and Empowerment: Whether you’re going through a personal challenge, processing emotions, or seeking deeper connection with yourself, women’s circles provide a space for healing. Sharing your story and hearing others’ can be incredibly cathartic, helping you process your emotions and move toward empowerment.

3. Self-Discovery: Through the practices and rituals that often accompany women’s circles, you may find that you uncover new insights about yourself. The space encourages self-reflection, personal growth, and an increased awareness of your inner strength and wisdom.

4. Spiritual Connection: If you’re interested in exploring spirituality, a women’s circle is a wonderful way to connect with your inner self and the collective energy of a group. Whether you’re drawn to the moon cycles, nature, or other spiritual practices, the circle can provide a meaningful connection to something greater than yourself.

5. Support and Encouragement: Life can be difficult, and having a supportive network of women can make all the difference. Women’s circles often provide a level of encouragement that might be hard to find elsewhere. Whether you’re working through a tough time or celebrating a success, your circle is there to cheer you on and provide love and wisdom.

feeling curious?

A women’s circle is a powerful and nurturing space that offers connection, empowerment, and healing. Rooted in ancient traditions, these circles continue to provide a safe environment for women to share, support, and grow together. Whether you’re looking for spiritual connection, emotional healing, or simply a sense of community, attending a women’s circle could offer exactly what you need. It’s a chance to step into a sacred space, rediscover yourself, and build lasting connections with other women who are on similar journeys.

If you’re feeling drawn to a women’s circle, why not give it a try? You might be surprised by the transformation it brings. Check out our Women’s Circle page for our latest offerings.

enjoying cacao

More than 5000 years ago, the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans were using cacao in sacred rituals. In these cultures, cacao was revered as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, a substance that could connect humans with the divine.

From a nutritional perspective, cacao is extremely nutritionally dense. It is rich in magnesium, iron, potassium, fibre and protein, as well as packed with flavonoids which can help reduce inflammation. But it doesn’t stop there! Cacao has been shown to lower stress levels and encourage feelings of relaxation owing to an amino acid known as tryptophan, which is used by the body to create serotonin, one of the “feel good” chemicals in the brain. Cacao also contains theobromine which has similar positive influences on mood and alertness as caffeine, but without the negative side effects.

These benefits, along with the delicious taste, are likely at the heart of the ancient wisdom of using cacao in sacred rituals. Processing cacao into chocolate loses most of the benefits, so using ceremonial grade cacao, which has undergone as little processing as possible, will increase the positive benefits of your cacao ceremony.

How to prepare your cacao

Everyone has a different preference for how much cacao to use. After many (many!) cups of cacao, I have found my preference is for 30g per cup.

Place your cacao, 100-110ml of hot water and 100-110ml of hot milk of your choice in a blender. Don’t worry about the cacao being in a solid form - the hot liquids and blending will melt it. You can use more liquid to suit your personal preference, but I prefer a richer drink. For the milk, I prefer to use non-dairy and find that a good quality oat milk works best, however you can use whatever milk suits your needs. Add your sweetener of choice - I prefer honey to keep my cacao ceremony as closely connected to nature as possible, with maple syrup being another good choice. I suggest a teaspoon per cup (cacao is quite bitter and those expecting a ‘hot chocolate’ type taste might prefer more sweetener to start with).

For grounding, I often add cinnamon and nutmeg (also great anti-inflammatories and rich in antioxidants). These spices are connected to the root chakra, helping you to feel spiritually grounded, and in Ayurvedic cooking are considered to be balancing. If I want more of a boost in my cacao, I also add macca powder, with its benefits including increasing energy levels.

Blend everything together for 5-10 seconds, then pour into your cup.

Enjoying a cacao ceremony

You can feel free to enjoy your cacao as a tasty drink that is doing you good. Or you can take a few mindful moments to create more of a ceremony around your cacao. Perhaps you take your cacao outside with you to sit under the sky, or find a quiet spot indoors. Next, engage your senses - focus on how the cup feels in your hands, what you can hear around you, the aroma from the cacao, the sight of the steam rising from the cup. Consider setting an intention, such as to bring more of a sense of calm into your day, to be more balanced, or to increase your connection with the divine. Before you take your first sip, thank Mother Nature for providing her bounty in the form of the cacao. As you start to drink, pay attention to the whole experience. The feel of the cup on your lips, the taste of the cacao on your tongue, the temperature and how it feels as you swallow the delicious drink. Give gratitude for the experience. Bring your focus to your intention, and mindfully experience each sip. Once you have finished, you may wish to take a moment for a meditation, or to reflect on any difference you feel following your cacao. Notice your state of mind. You might want to close off your ritual by raising your arms up overhead as you take a deep breath in, drawing the hands in towards your heart centre as you sigh out. Close off with a moment of thanks or gratitude as you breath in the energy you want to take with you for the rest of the day.

Experiment with your ritual to see what is most meaningful for you. There is no right or wrong way - any ritual has the meaning that you give to it.

Wishing you much love and light as you explore the wonders of cacao.